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Reece
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Slowly, so I didn't wake the baby or my wife, I slid off the bed and to my feet. I wanted to let Trinity get some rest so that she wasn't exhausted in the morning. This day, since it was after midnight, was our first day as new parents. It was going to be fun and exciting and interesting, I just couldn't wait for it all to begin.
I also couldn't wait to go and show our families our babies. They were still waiting down the hall for someone to deliver some news. How about instead of news I bring babies. That would make them happy, wouldn't it?
I walked over to the little crib-like bed that Reagan was laying in. With a little bit of adjusting, and some help from the nearby nurse, I managed to get both babies into my arms and positioned them so that they were sleeping soundly.
I didn't want to wait any longer. I knew that everyone was likely tired and eager as they waited for me to come and tell them what was happening. I walked softly from the room, not wanting to jostle my children as I moved down the hallway.
I saw that the group of family members that were waiting for us were all still awake. They were slouching and sitting as comfortably as they could in the cramped space. That is, until Mom saw me walking toward them with the special deliveries in my arms. That was when she started jumping out of her chair and screaming for joy. I could hear her from down the hall.
"Oh my Goddess, oh my Goddess!" She was bouncing up and down, and everyone was turning to look in the direction she was looking. "They're here! The babies are here!"
When I got to the door of the waiting room, it was already being pulled open, and Mom was covering her mouth with her hands to muffle her screams of joy as she continued to bounce around. When I was in the room, she took her hands from her mouth and started to cry, her hands flapping beside her like she was a crazy bird.
"Reece! Oh my Goddess, Reece! They are so beautiful! Oh my Goddess! My grandbabies! My first ever grandbabies!" Mom was almost sobbing as she stared at the babies with a smile on her face.
"They really are beautiful." Eve was crying as well, hugging Wesley's side as she smiled at the babies.
With a smile, I looked at them all, all their happy and proud faces. It was time to introduce the babies.
"I would like you all to meet my children. This is Reagan." I turned a little so that the baby that was resting in my left arm was closer to them all. "He was born at eleven forty six and weighed five and a half pounds. He was also twenty-two inches long." I smiled at my son as I said these words. Then I turned just a little so that my daughter was closer to them. "And this is Rika, she was just shy of five pounds and was eighteen inches long. She was born at twelve o-six."
"Wait? What?!" Mom and Eve spoke at the same time. They had caught what I had said.
"They have different birthdays?" Riley asked, having noticed as well.
"That they do." I laughed. "They already fight so much that they couldn't even agree on a birthday."
"That is too precious." Mom smiled.
"Now we just get to celebrate twice every year. We will make sure they each get a special day." Eve was grinning as well. They were definitely grandmothers, and they thought so much alike already.
"Can I hold one of them?" Mom asked me, there was nervousness in her voice like she thought I would say no. "I know Eve and Wesley are their grandparents as well, but they're my first grandbabies." Mom was crying again as she looked at the babies.
"I think it would be best if you held them first." Eve nodded at her. "We already have two other grandbabies, so we know how you're feeling." There were tears in her eyes as she said this.
"Thank you." Mom squeezed her hand for a second then came closer to me.
With gentle and slow movements, she lifted Rika from my arms and pulled her close to her chest. I could tell that she was overjoyed at the moment, we all were.
"Hey there, Rika. I'm your Lola Lila." Mom had apparently been planning out this moment for a while, she even had her grandmother name all set and ready to go. "You're so beautiful. Such a sweet little girl."
I watched as mom stroked Rika's tiny cheek gently for just a moment. After a second, my view was blocked by someone that was almost as tall as me. Riley was standing in front of me, a huge grin on his face.
"I'm proud of you, Reece. You did good."
Riley pulled me into an awkward hug then, doing his best to avoid the baby. He was still clapping me on the back though, and I felt the love of a brother coming off of him. When he pulled away, he slipped Reagan from my arm and held him securely.
"I have to say, there was a point when I thought this day would never come. I'm glad you can experience this moment, Reece. Family is a blessing, and I know you will be a good dad."
Now that both of my arms were free, it was time for the others to congratulate me as well. Samuel, my Little Bunny's grandfather, came up to me first. He gripped my hand firmly and shook it for just a second before pulling me into a tight hug that, quite frankly, surprised me.
"I'm proud of you as well, boy. And I couldn't be happier that my granddaughter has you in her life. Thank you for being there to protect her and to give her this wonderful family." I was almost at a loss for words at the sudden closeness from the man, but I managed to recover a little.
"Thank you, Samuel, I am glad that you are here with us, and that we all share a love for Trinity and these babies." I smiled at him, not knowing what else to do.
When Samuel walked to the side after the hug, Noah came up to me next. He was grinning at me, and he looked like he had been crying. He had been my best friend for years, and he was my wife's brother of sorts. There wasn't someone that we could get that was closer to the both of us.
"Reece." He pulled me into a hug, his arms tight around me. "I still can't believe it sometimes. My best friend married my sister. I have loved and cared for Trinity for her entire life, and you and I grew up together. It's hard to find two people that mean more to me besides my wife, children, and parents. It may irk me sometimes to see my baby sister with you, but I couldn't have chosen a better man for her."
"Thank you, Noah. You're like a brother to me as well, so marrying Trinity just made that real for me."
After Noah left me, Eve and Wesley came to me. They were the last of Trinity's family that was here, aside from Carter, who was too far away and with his newborn son and recovering wife. I saw the happy tears that were still filling Eve's eyes and the proud look on Wesley's face.
"Thank you, Reece." Eve hugged me, her arms wrapping around my waist and her face pressed to my chest.
"You're the perfect son-in-law." Wesley added as he hugged me as well, adding to the pressure of his wife's arms. I snaked my arms around them as best as I could and hugged them back.
"Thank you." I grinned. "And thank you for raising the best wife in the world. Without her, I wouldn't have the lovely family that I have now."
When the hugs were all given, it was time for the babies to be passed around a little more. Eve held Rika next while Mom held Reagan. After she passed off her grandson for someone else, she came up to me and hugged me as well. She didn't say anything, she just cried happy tears as she squeezed me tightly. That was all she needed to do though, that said it all for her.
I was glad that everyone got to meet the babies. And tomorrow they could come and congratulate the mother, after she had gotten plenty of rest that is. This had definitely been the best day, well days, of my life!
After the visit was over, I took the babies back to the room and put them in their little beds. I knew that they would need to eat soon, and that my Little Bunny would be waking up. After their next meal, when she went back to sleep, I would get a nap in. I wasn't going anywhere though. This was my life now, they were my life now.
And, like I promised, I helped Trinity while she nursed the babies when we got back to the room. After they were fed, burped, changed, and put back to bed for the next couple of hours, I propped myself up next to my wife and closed my eyes, alert for even the slightest of sounds. I was going to help as well as protect. That was my vow, my promise to them all.
